The ringmaster was of ripe age.

马戏团领班成年而有经验。

Time was when people in poor countries were too hungry and hardworking to be obese, could not afford cigarettes and mostly died before the ailments of ripe middle age kicked in.

以前贫穷国家的人饥饿难耐，工作又拼命，身体很难发胖，他们买不起香烟，而且通常在中年时期就会死于一些小病。